Registering a death

A death must be registered within 5 days from when it occurred.  This period can be extended in exceptional circumstances only, or if the Coroner is invalid. The registration must, if at all possible, take place in the District where the death occurred. If the doctor or hospital did not tell you where you to register, you can find your local registry office using at the DirectGov website.

If a death is reported to the Coroner and an inquest is to be held, it will not be necessary for the next of kin to attend the Register Office to register the death.  The Coroner’s Officers will explain this process to you.

If it is difficult for you to get to the appropriate Register Office, you may visit your local office and make a ‘death by declaration’ registration.  This death by declaration will, however, result in a delay in the issue of the death certificate and documentation needed for the funeral arrangements because your local office can only take information fromm you, they will then send the information to the Register Office in the District where the death occurred who will issue the relevant documentation.

If you would like information on deaths that happen abroad please visit the Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) website.